The toll in Monday's dam-pipe burst at Idukki district in Kerala [Images] has risen to four, with authorities finding one more body on Tuesday, said sources.

The three victims, whose bodies were recovered by Monday midnight, were employees of the Kerala state Electricity Board. They lost their lives while trying to close the valve of the penstock pipe, which carries water from Ponmudi dam to Panniyar power house, said sources. Their bodies were found trapped in the valve house.

According to reports, four persons are still missing. Police and fire brigade personnel resumed their search for missing persons on Tuesday morning with the help of local people. The gushing waters from the broken pipe also destroyed seven houses and damaged many more.

The preliminary official assessment states that the water spill was caused by the loosening of bolts at a joint in the 200-inch radius pipe.